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In a flagrant display of belligerent posturing, the DRP-PA Coalition has announced its own candidates for the posts of both the speaker and the deputy speaker of the newly elected People's Majlis. Such posturing followed by a contentious election would only politicize the esteemed post and hamper the speaker's ability to function effectively. In order to avoid such dilemma, efforts are made in parliamentary democracies to reach consensus and avoid voting.
For example, after the Indian General Elections in 1998, the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had the numbers in the 12th Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) to get its own candidates through. But it negotiated with the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to share the posts. Ultimately C.M. Balayogi of NDA was elected speaker and PM Sayeed (a native of Minicoy) of UPA was elected deputy speaker unanimously. Later when Balayogi died he was replaced by Manohar Joshi of NDA, again without opposition. This arrangement continued through the 13th Lok Sabha. In the 14th Lok Sabha, which ended last week, Somnath Chatterjee supported by UPA was elected speaker and Charanjit Atwal of NDA was elected deputy speaker by consensus.
As of now it does not appear as if the Maldives Majlis is heading for a consensus. On Wednesday, the main opposition Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP), which won highest number of seats in the recently held parliamentary election, decided to submit the names of Abdulla Shahid (Felidhoo) and Ahmed Nazim, (Dhiggaru) for Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. Though not officially announced so far it is rumored that MDP will propose Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Hinnavaru) as its candidate for speaker.
In the recently concluded parliamentary elections, DRP/PA coalition won 35 seats. The ruling party, MDP won 26 seats and 13 seats went to independent candidates. A total of 39 seats are required to secure a majority in the parliament.
Mohamed Hussein (Kanditheemu) the senior most parliamentarian in the Majlis will chair the first sitting of the Majlis to be held on 28 May, secretariat of the People's Majlis has revealed. The election of the speaker and deputy will be held during the meeting. For the sake of democracy, one hopes the two leading parties will find a consensus avoid a fractious election.
13 comments:
You are comparing all this with India.We should not forget that India has a mature democracy.Same doesnot apply here.Dont forget the posturing that was so publicly done by President Nasheed himself.Have you so soon forgotten the infamous we willtake 50 seats talk but the outcome was not as he expected.Now DRP/PA is a coalition and it is with PAs support that DRP will be able to reach the magic mark and obviously they have to satisfy their coalition partners before giving consideration to anyone else.Apparently you seem to have forgotten this.Even with compromise candidates sparks are bound to fly between the DRP and MDP candidates in the new majlis and in one way it may even be better not to have false pretences and have your candidates for these important posts whenever it is possible.How many DRP members are there in the new Presidential Commission to investigate corruption?So if you expect to receive then be ready to give and compromise.So unless we see gestures of good will from the MDP the DRP may also use a policy of the winner takes it all and there is nothing so unusual about this.
We are not so mature to have consensus candidates. we'll have to fight it out.
No compromise is possible with MDP. They are a bunch of angry people out for revenge. they will perish in thier own anger. Look at that 'impartial' riyaasee commission. Hussain Rasheed being impartial is the joke of the year.
in a parliment where members of both sides wanting their way nothing can be resoleved.the only possible scenario that i can project out of this sad situation is what we have an old saying in Dhivehi "DHEGERI THALAHAYYA KANGALAH BAARUKURAANE". while the two huge bulls are fighting the tomb stones in the midlle might end up being trampled.This scene seems similar to what`s happenning in many parts of our country. what can you expect from those parlimentarians who seem to be locking heads with whomever is not giving in to them. as if every one has to follow suit and be agreeable. if not out you go.and sometimes it is not just out you go, but more of a "I`m going to destroy you" attitude and charecter assassinate to a pulp.If Ruling,opposition or independent all are following this mantra of politicking no consensus on any matter would be possible not at least in my life time.
Think about it.. an 'independent' presidential commission within days of the election.. which will not allow key PA/DRP membersto take their oath of office .. this coming from highly connected MDP officials and threats by people like MDP MP Reeko Moosa Maniku during the selection of election commission members that if the parliament did not endorse whichever candidate MDP nominated, all memebers of the election would be submitted to a viote of no confidence...these seem more like things which one should be worried about..
If you go back and read your own writings.. I think you will find out that you are expressing a very biased view.. there is no problem with that.. except when you try to pass it off as objective analysis/comment
Remember , Just recall how your MDP friend Afeef stole the speaker position from DRP Seena Zahir.Afeef was chairing the meeting as the senior most MP. Zahir won the vote. Then Afeef annulled the vote saying Dhaal Atoll MP Siyam cannot vote since he was MTCC director.(even though Siyam had resigned from MTCC board.Then a second vote was taken. One MP was induced to change position.Shihab was elected. This was after Afeef himself as Chair had announced Zahir had been elected. This is the MDP way.You did not criticize it then. Now DRP as a party has expressed only an interest. IE Shahid be elected speaker. DRP does not have a majority. They only have 28 MPs. So if other parties and independents support Shahid only he will be elected.Ibu also has a good chance.
I dont know what u mean by belligerence.If DRP does something its autocratic and if MDP does it its for democracy?
Stop telling us this is for democracy.I dont want to hear u tell me its for oil either.Just because ur analysis is biased.
The starting line of your article 'flagrant display of belligerent posturing' does not enhance your status as an honest writer.
Sure, there are many ways of signaling your political affiliations by why stoop so low. What ever happened to professionalism...
MDP must stop acting like a sore loser. What's the use of this riyaasee commission and attack against civil service? when in shit better keep quiet. if you struggle you'll only sink deeper.
MDP lost the election because Anni was too kind and did not put DRP people behind bars for corruption. Now that he is starting to do it people will distance themselves from DRP.
To comment at 2:15 am.
Very good observation.Anni is the male version of Mother Teresa.Too kind, too gentle and just too sincere and having too much respect towards the ordinary Maldivians.He is a great leader who will not look back wards but forward and not even side ways.He always use gentle and wise words like a philosopher to address and never utter a word that makes him look like a drunken ,egoistic and immature moron.Even his voice and mannerisms are so soothening .He is surrounded by well educated , honourable and peace loving exceptional citizens who can do no wrong like attending unruly gatherings and use filthy words.All huis close followers are strictly religious and alcohol and drugs are a strict taboo for them.
Anni the great leader loves peace and will not see that harm is done to any of his citizens.He will never take initiatives on witch hunting and spread of malicious gossip around the country to malign his opponents.He is too humble to even expect that Maldivians will give his party a resounding 50 odd seats in the Parliament and will publicly admit that a mere 25 or 26 seats is more than what he ever expects and ever asks for.
He is large hearted enough to make sure that he will send his own salary to any former president who is not getting his due pension and other priviledges as expected and written in the constitution.
The great leader is a strong opponent on any nepotism in the government and will not allow any of his siblings, relatives , friends or friend friends to come even 50 meters from a government office.
So what do you expect? Are we or are you living in a fools paradise.?
When will thick skulls like your open for the benefit of this country that is right now spiralling downwards into a dark abyss out of which it may be so difficult to bring it out without irreperable and irreversible damage.
Anni eats broken glass. Hence his funny voice.
Thanks Anon 1132 25th may.
I always wondered how Anni got that voice. Now i know. Eating broken glass, eh?Does he regularly eat it to keep the voice that way? Or eating once is enough?
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